I visited Copenhagen in October, it was my first trip to Denmark and although the weather was damp and cold, I loved my time in Copenhagen. A large part of that is thanks to where I was staying – Steel House Copenhagen. There are several hostels in Copenhagen to choose from, but I’d heard good things about Steel House and wanted to check it out for myself so was thrilled when they invited me to stay for a few days. If you’re wondering where to stay in Copenhagen on a budget, then Steel House is for you! Here’s my full Steel House Copenhagen review, which I think (Spoiler Alert!) is the best hostel in Copenhagen…take a look and see if you agree!
I had a complimentary stay at Steel House, but rest assure that all opinions here are my own.
Where to Stay in Copenhagen
Copenhagen is actually a very walkable city, as long as you are staying somewhere around the city centre or the northern part of the Vesterbro neighbourhood. Here you’ll be within walking distance of most of the main things to do in Copenhagen so you can explore the city right on your doorstep. If you are further out you will probably need to take the metro in and out of the city, so for me, I always prefer to stay closer to town if I can.
The Steel House Copenhagen Location
Steel House Copenhagen is in the Vesterbro district, a stone’s throw from the city centre. It is just 5 minutes’ walk to Tivoli Gardens and less than 10 to the main square. Steel House is on a quiet street, overlooking what I thought was a river but is actually a series of lakes. The hostel is also very close to Vesterport Street metro station and just 7 minutes’ walk from Copenhagen Central Station, which is handy for trains to and from the airport.
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Safety at The Steel House Copenhagen
As a solo female traveller safety in hostels is always important to me when I am choosing where to stay. At Steel House, you need a key to access the lifts and bedrooms, and in the dorms each bed has its own locker too (bring your own lock for these). Copenhagen is a safe city anyway, but the 24-hour reception and friendly staff at Steel House really made me feel secure.
Check-In at the Steel House
Steel House Copenhagen is run in a slightly different way than I am used to in most hostels. Due to the size of the hostel (253 rooms with a total of 1154 beds) the check in process is done by computer portals in the reception area, where you input your own reservation number and program the key card yourself.
At first, I thought this was a little cold and impersonal, but once I learned why I understood. In a hostel with over 1000 beds, checking each guest in personally would take a long time, and probably create long queues and a poor experience for the guests.
Instead, check-in is available on several computers in the lobby and staff are free to answer any questions about the hostel, the city and provide help if needed.
The hostel also has an app which you can download before you arrive to have your phone programmed to use as your key – that was a bit too technologically advanced for me though, so I stuck to the old-fashioned way!
Check-in is from 3pm, but it is always worth asking the staff if your room is ready earlier – you never know!
Staff at the Hostel
Everyone I spoke to at the hostel was friendly and knowledgeable about Copenhagen, and despite the size of the hostel they manage to keep a friendly and fun vibe where other large hostels sometimes seem unfriendly and sterile. All the social events help to meet people, and the staff get involved with gusto as well! If you’re wondering who’s who, next to the bar there’s a wall with photos and fun facts about the team.
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Rooms at the Steel House Copenhagen
I stayed in a 6-bed dorm room which I had all to myself. Mixed dorm rooms and female only dorms are available, and there are private double rooms too. Dorm rooms are easily converted to private rooms if double rooms aren’t available.
The beds are some of the best bunk beds I’ve ever slept in. A good quality mattress, soft pillow and cosy quilt meant I slept like a baby every night I was in Steel House. The beds are designed almost like pods, so there is no chance of wobbly bed frames or unwelcome squeaks here. Each bed also has its own light, USB socket and plug socket, as well as a handy pouch to store a phone, water bottle or other bits and bobs.
All of the rooms are en-suite, with a separate shower and toilet. Towels and soap are provided, small details which make a big difference to me! Other little details like having 6 numbered hooks in the shower for each person’s towel were a nice touch.
The lights in the shower and toilet are on a sensor, which presumably is better for the environment but went off a little too quickly for my liking – especially in the shower when I had to open the glass shower for the sensor to pick up the movement. However, that small detail isn’t a big deal in the scheme of things – I’ll forgive a lot as long as I get a comfy bed!
The dorm rooms are fairly narrow so there isn’t an awful lot of space, but there are plenty of social areas downstairs, so you won’t be spending much time in the room when you’re not sleeping. The rooms are temperature-controlled and you can also open the window for some fresh air.
Each dorm room has lockers, but you’ll need your own key to lock them.
Facilities at the Steel House Hostel Copenhagen
This is where Steel House rises above most other hostels. How many hostels have you stayed in which have a pool? And a gym? How about a cinema?
Some facilities do have an extra charge, like the swimming pool, gym and the kitchen – which is unusual but if that keeps the costs low for those who won’t use these extras then I’m cool with that. The extra charges are pretty small as well, to be honest; the kitchen is DKK 20 (about $3 USD) for your whole stay, whereas the gym and pool are both DKK 20 for 2 hours use.
Think of it as a budget airline – you pay extra to reserve a seat, board the plane first or take extra luggage – but if you want a no-frills experience then you can save money cutting out these extras.
That’s not to say that you’ll be bored at the Steel House, there are plenty of free activities to keep you busy! The spacious social areas have areas to chill out, play games, drink a beer (or two) and there several events a day so you’re bound to find something you like to do without needing to spend money.
There is also a large seating area with tables where you can eat, chat, chill out and a co-working space too.
Social Events at the Steel House
For me, events are the key to feeling at home in a hostel. Solo travel can be lonely at times, so having lots of activities and excuses to start conversations are a great way to meet fellow travellers.
Steel House have a dizzying array of events going on, from free walking tours, running sessions and capoeira training to game nights, karaoke, live music and pub crawls. I was out and about most of the evenings, I was there, but caught a fabulous performance of live music from one of the regulars.
Breakfast at the Steel House Copenhagen
There is no breakfast provided at Steel House, but if you need to grab a bite to eat they have breakfast bags available for DKK 49 which include a bread bun with cheese on, a juice drink and a fruit bar. They also have a selection of fruit, cookies and sandwiches available for purchase too which is a great way to fill your belly without breaking the bank on food.
You can also buy food to cook in the kitchen (DKK 20 to access the kitchen facilities for your whole stay), or head out to a restaurant or café to try some of the amazing food in Copenhagen.
What Makes Steel House the Best Hostel in Copenhagen?
For me, it is a combination of a whole host of things; the cool décor and style, friendly staff and the wide array of events. I liked the location, close to the train station and a stone’s throw from the metro station. I slept well in the comfy bed and loved being able to grab a sandwich at any time of the day or night if I was too lazy to go out!
With rates for a dorm bed starting at DKK 125 (around $18.50 USD) a night, it is a great base to explore Copenhagen on a budget. I really enjoyed my stay here and have no hesitations recommending Steel House as the best hostel in Copenhagen.
How to Book Steel House Copenhagen
You can book Steel House or get more information about their rates directly on their own website here.
If you’d like to check out more reviews from fellow travellers before you book, take a look at their reviews on Hostelworld here.
Want More Hostel Posts?
Check out these blog posts to learn more about staying in a hostel, and some tips for working in a hostel as a volunteer or click here to read all of my accommodation posts.Like this post? Pin it to read later:
